"Now you will understand my great curiosity. In order to prevent the
scandal of such a marriage, my friend's family would do every thing in
the world. But how can you attack a woman of whose antecedents and mode
of life nothing is known?"

"Yes, I understand," said Brevan,--"I understand."

His features betrayed that he was making a great mental effort. He
remained for some time absorbed in his thoughts; and at last he said, as
if coming to a decision,--

"No, I do not see any way to prevent this marriage; none at all."

"Still, from what you told me"--

"What!"

"About the cupidity of this woman."

"Well?"

"If she were offered a large sum, some eighty or a hundred thousand
dollars?"

Maxime laughed out loud; but there was not the true ring in his
laughter.

"You might offer her two hundred thousand, and she would laugh at you.
Do you think she would be fool enough to content herself with a fraction